Turn Issa Loose

IBD Editorials ^ | November 16, 2010 | Staff

[Kaslin]

Ethics: You may never have heard of Rep. Darrell Issa, but you will soon. Republicans have tasked him with cleaning up four years of Democratic misrule and misconduct. It's a big job, but somebody simply must do it.

For proof, look no further than Tuesday's dirty debacle with Rep. Charles Rangel, who walked out of a congressional hearing before being found guilty by the House ethics committee on 11 of 13 charges of misconduct.

Democrats were keen to rid themselves of this scandal before the GOP takes over in January. That let them control the outcome while pretending to be ethically responsible.

But Rangel's sins have been known for years and Democrats, with a solid hold on Congress, chose to ignore his misbehavior. Now, they likely will administer a mild slap on the wrist to Rangel during their lame-duck Congress, and politely ask him to go away.

Gee, wasn't it just two years ago, in the 2008 campaign, that we were promised "transparency" and "accountability"? Instead, we can't recall any time in our history when we've had a government less accountable or transparent than it is today.

[HarleyD]

Issa should be careful. He should focus on two things; 1) where did the money go for the bail outs and 2) health care. Both of these will resinate with the people and will keep him busy. The Democrats won’t be able to stand it. Anything beyond that and it will look like a witch hunt.

[Nickname]

It’s imperative that confidence in the integrity of our elections be restored.

Investigating disenfranchisement of our military, general voter fraud, union shenanigans, foreign campaign contributions, DOJ and Soros’ influence/Secretary of the State Project would certainly keep me glued to CSPAN.

[Nickname]

Do you think that investigating voter fraud would look like a witch hunt? I agree that what you’ve listed needs to be looked into, but what good will it do if the Dems are able to regain power through fraud and sweep things back under the rug?

I’m disappointed that the GOP didn’t deal with the issue while they held both houses and the presidency.

Outside of the politicians who benefit and those who engage in it, nobody likes cheaters.

[HarleyD]

There are lots of things that Issa could look at. Certainly voter fraud is one. I just think health care and the bail outs are so widely unpopular and everyone knows that there was so many laws broken, it seems a natural. There were enough laws broken to impeach this president. There really isn’t a need to focus on things that could be more difficult for people to understand. Here I think the KISS rule applies.

[Nickname]

KISS is always a good rule.

I’m sure Issa has a game plan for the next two years. Can’t wait to see how it plays out.

[ripley]

“It’s imperative that confidence in the integrity of our elections be restored.”

One wonders how many of those who died fighting for the sanctity of the vote and other American principles are rolling in their graves at the sound of those words.

(It is hoped that the first thing Mr. Issa investigates
is election fraud in whatever insidious form it might have taken and the individuals responsible.)

IMHO

[1010RD]

You’re absolutely right. One of the issues Issa and the GOP in Congress will face is voter overload or distraction.

What Issa needs are simple, focused investigations that lead to early wins. A drip, drip, drip approach only works if you win.

The financiers and political entrepreneurs make the perfect target. Nearly all Americans don’t like that insider dealing. It is a political winner and we need to win elections to return our country to its Constitutional roots.

Vote fraud, unless you’ve got a slam dunk, is a distraction.

#1 bailout fraud, #2 Obamacare & #3,IMO, is regulatory abuse - start with the EPA and the BP oil spill reaction.

Focus, win, refocus and win again. With a sufficient budget multiple investigations can happen concurrently. It’s how you handle the presentation in the public thoughtspace that matters.

The GOP are the adult party. We need to use that to banish the Dems for a generation.

[1010RD]

Here's his target list and it is both correct and a political Tommy gun:

The list of troubling government activities that should be investigated is a long one. Issa's already looking into Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And he's been openly critical of the Obama stimulus' lack of controls and poor accounting practices.

He — or other GOP committees — may also look into AIG and the other bank bailouts, and answer who got money and why.

Then there's the Countrywide VIP program, in which some Congress members got favorable mortgages. And don't forget the $700 billion TARP program, the government's takeovers of GM and Chrysler, the links between the left-wing community organizing group ACORN and the Democrats, and even U.S. Minerals Management Service misconduct prior to the BP oil blowout.

It's a nearly perfect list and will, if managed well, win us the Senate in 2012.